Thursday, May 16, 2013
"Conceptual contract" includes Hekemian donation of 3 acres of property and a 'sizable' donation for BOE to construct an athletic stadium.
Jaws dropped and tensions mounted during Tuesday's Zoning Board meeting at the revelation that the New Milford Board of Education (BOE) had entered into a separate agreement with the developer of the United Water property to receive a parcel of land to build a 'field of dreams.' Attorney for the applicant, Antimo "Andy" DelVecchio, informed the Zoning Board that Hekemian had entered into a "conceptual contract" with the New Milford BOE to donate "in excess" of three acres of property to construct a field of dreams-like "state of the art" athletic field and stadium on a parcel of property that is not subject to flooding. DelVecchio stressed that the developer is not building the athletic stadium, they are only donating the land and a "…
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Expert says the master plan puts affordable housing on 13-Acre United Water property.
Thursday's special meeting of the Zoning Board began where it ended last--with the cross examination of the applicant's planner, Peter Steck, who owns a private consulting firm in Maplewood. Louis Flora, an attorney representing the Borough of Oradell in the hearings, questioned Steck about the reduced number of affordable housing units and contended that eight of the 24 units are driven by the commercial component of the development. Flora also questioned Steck regarding traffic impact and overflow that the proposed development will have on Oradell's streets. "I rely on the testimony of our traffic experts reports for that," Steck said. As with his prior testimony, Steck repeatedly stressed that the proposed development of the United …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Further states that by the governing bodies lack of action, the application meets all criteria for approval
After years of the borough providing documentation showing that the United Water property would be best utilized for affordable housing units, the project planner for the proposed development of the 13-acre United Water property has stated that by New Milford's inaction, the mixed-use project is inherently beneficial to the town. Peter Steck concluded his testimony during Tuesday evening's Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting where he placed the onus of the Mayor and Council's decision to not rezone the property the impetus for the need of a D variance. "The governing body could have zoned this site to hold all of the [affordable housing] units, but they did not do that," Steck testified. "We deserve merit approval of this application …
Friday, April 5, 2013
SOD will host a public meeting on April 10 for all New Milford and River Dell residents
On Wednesday, April 10, SOD will be holding an open meeting and invites all interested New Milford and Oradell residents to attend. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Senior Center on River Road. At that time we will be recapping the Board of Adjustment Hearings on granting variances to develop the United Water property. The Executive Board will discuss strategies for the final portion of the hearings. The public can now present its case to the Board and then the hearing will be open for comments from the public. Those residents who have been following the developments but have been unable to attend the Board meetings are welcome to come and participate on the 10th. With the end in sight it is imperative that we present a …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The proposed United Water property hearings before the New Milford Zoning Board of Adjustment is closing in on its final meetings
After over 30 regular and special meetings before the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the hearings for the proposed development of the 13-acre United Water property is nearing a close. Development attorney Andy DelVecchio called two of his three final experts last week and is expected to conclude his presentation on April 9. The proposed mixed-use development includes a 70,500 sq. ft. supermarket, a 4300 sq. ft. bank and a significantly pared down housing component--24 units down from an original 221 units. "I'm getting close to concluding direct presentation for the application," DelVecchio said. At the last Zoning Board meeting, he called forth supermarket architect Thomas Ashbahin and engineering expert Michael Dipple. According to Ashbahin…
Friday, March 1, 2013
Hekemian's traffic expert returns to answer the public's questions regarding her previous testimony.
Hekemian's traffic expert, Elizabeth "Betsy" Dolan returned to the New Milford Zoning Board to answer questions regarding the testimony she gave on her revised traffic impact study. The study was prepared in support of the proposed development of the 13-acre United Water property--a mixed-use development that includes a 70,500 sq. ft. supermarket, a 4300 sq. ft. bank and a significantly pared down housing component--24 units down from an original 221 units. The analysis —prepared by Dolan & Dean Consulting Engineers LLC of Martinsville —assesses the existing infrastructure in the vicinity of the site, identifies existing traffic patterns, and projects future traffic volumes. Also included is an assessment of future roadway and intersection…
Friday, February 15, 2013
Hekemian's revised traffic impact study calls for a delayed green light on River Road and Madison during the 3pm-4pm peak hour.
In reviewing the revised traffic impact study she prepared, Elizabeth "Betsy" Dolan, a traffic engineer hired by Hekemian to analyze the traffic impact and trip generation of the proposed development of the United Water property, said that the light on River Road and Madison Avenue would have a delayed green to accommodate the increased traffic generated on Madison Avenue by the new development. Dolan said that the delay would be during the peak hour of 3 pm to 4 pm, an hour, some argued, when River Road is congested with cars picking up students at the High School. Berge Tombalakian, of Boswell Engineering--the town's engineer--asked if this delay might not cause cars on River Road to seek another route and look for alternative cut …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Revised Traffic Impact Analysis reflects overall reduction in trip generation projections; observations indicate after-school pedestrian traffic mainly crosses River Rd. at signal.
A revised Traffic Impact Analysis has been submitted to the Zoning Board reflecting Hekemian's revised plans reducing the residential component of the United Water property proposed mixed-use development. In November, Hekemian submitted a revised site plan substantially reducing the scope of the residential portion from 221 units (40 set aside to satisfy New Milford's COAH low income housing obligation) to 24 fair market, low income housing units. The revised analysis —prepared by Dolan & Dean Consulting Engineers LLC of Martinsville —assesses the existing infrastructure in the vicinity of the site, identifies existing traffic patterns, and projects future traffic volumes. Also included is an assessment of future roadway and intersection …
Friday, January 11, 2013
FEMA's preliminary Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps not being considered by Hekemian in the proposed development of the United Water property.
As a result of the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, FEMA released updated preliminary Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps in December that, once final, may expand the flood zones in 10 New Jersey coastal counties, including Bergen County. Click here to see New Milford. New Milford residents, long asking for an update to the 1980 DEP flood map that Hekemian is relying on in getting variance approvals for the development of the United Water property, were disappointed to learn at Tuesday's meeting of the Zoning Board that these updated maps will not be taken into consideration by Hekemian in the design of the development, and that the 1980 DEP map stands. These updated maps are preliminary and will go through a review and appeal period…
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Attorneys for the S. Hekemian Group answer why the scope of the residential component was reduced; re-appointed and newly appointed Board members sworn in.
During Tuesday's New Milford Zoning Board meeting, the applicant's attorney, Antimo "Andy" DelVecchio, informed the Board that the removal of 197 housing units from the site plan of the United Water property was done to satisfy their concerns regarding the high density of the residential portion of the project. The residential component of the original site plan included 221 multi-family units with a four-story parking garage that included 428 parking spaces. The revised plans call for 24 fair market housing units and 54 perimeter parking spaces. According to DelVecchio, and the two Hekemian experts that testified at Tuesday's meeting--architect Christian Lessard and engineer Michael Dipple-- these 24 units will satisfy New Milford's COAH …
summer chaser
12:53 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2013
Perhaps they should deem the housing senior citizens...... then there will be no problem with more kids in their schools...... more ›